News Releases

May 26, 2010

WOCCU Launches Charity Golf Tournament at The 1 CU Conference

Proceeds Will Benefit Global Women’s Leadership Network

Bear's Best Las Vegas will be the site of the July 10 Global Women's Leadership Network's Tee-up FORE WOCCU charity golf tournament.

LAS VEGAS — Golfers wanting to drive for global credit union development should plan on participating in the Tee-up FORE WOCCU golf tournament. Proceeds from the July 10 event sponsored by the Global Women's Leadership Network, a relatively new World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) initiative, will be used to help women leaders and their communities.

Tee-up FORE WOCCU, a charity event open to the public, will raise funds for the network, which provides peer-to-peer networking and educational events for credit union women leaders from both developed and developing countries. Golf tournament proceeds will fund scholarships to attend the network's annual forum and WOCCU development programs providing assistance to women in Colombia, Kenya and Sri Lanka.

The tournament course, Bear's Best Las Vegas, was designed by Jack Nicklaus and replicates 18 of the legendary golfer's favorite holes from the more than 270 courses he has designed worldwide. CO-OP Financial Services, a WOCCU associate member organization, is a presenting sponsor. Other tournament supporters include CU*Answers, Ser-Technology, CUDL, and Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates.

"CO-OP Financial Services is a strong advocate for WOCCU and its mission," said Stan Hollen, CO-OP's president and CEO. "We're committed to making this inaugural golf tournament a success because the funds will be put to such a good use in promoting credit union development worldwide."

The tournament will begin with a 7:00 a.m. breakfast followed by 7:30 a.m. shotgun start. The event concludes with a lunch and awards presented by WOCCU Chair Barry Jolette, president and CEO of San Mateo Credit Union, Redwood City, Calif., and WOCCU President and CEO Pete Crear. Transportation to and from the course will be provided. Buses will depart from and arrive at the MGM Grand Hotel Conference Center.

"The course is a feast for the eyes and a challenge for even the most experienced golfer," says tournament committee volunteer Joe Schroeder, president and CEO of Ventura County Credit Union in Ventura, Calif. "I would encourage anyone who enjoys the game or has a commitment to global economic development to participate."

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 60,500 credit unions in 109 countries serve 223 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.